Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Speech and Language Therapy for Children with Autism

PWSMom — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:44:15 +0000

Body:

What is it?

The goal of speech therapy is to improve all aspects of communication. This includes: comprehension, expression, sound production, and social use of language ⁽¹⁾. Speech therapy may include sign language and the use of picture symbols ⁽²⁾. At its best, a specific speech therapy program is tailored to the specific weaknesses and the environment of the individual child ^{(1, 3)}. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to create a child-specific, evolving, long-term speech therapy plan ^{(1 , 4)}.

The National Research Council describes four aspects of beneficial speech therapy.

Speech therapy should begin early in a child's life and be frequent.
Therapy should be rooted in practical experience in the child's life.
Therapy should encourage spontaneous communication.
Any communication skills learned during speech therapy should be generalizable to multiple situations ⁽⁵⁾.

Thus, any speech therapy program should include practice in many different places with many different people ⁽²⁾. In order for speech therapy to be most successful, caregivers should practice speech exercises during normal daily routines in the home, school, and community ^{(1 , 6, 7)}. Speech therapists can give specific examples of how best to incorporate speech therapy throughout a child's day ⁽⁸⁾.

What's it like?

Speech therapy sessions will vary greatly depending upon the child. If the child is younger than three years old, then the speech therapist will most likely come into the home for a one-hour session. If the child is older than three, then therapy sessions will occur at school or in the therapist’s office. If the child is school age, expect that speech therapy will include one-on-one time with the child, classroom-based activities, and consultations between the speech therapist and teachers and parents ⁽²⁾.

The sessions should be designed to engage the child in communication. The therapist will engage the child using games and toys chosen specifically for the child. Several different speech therapy techniques and approaches can be used in a single session or throughout many sessions (see Does it work?).

Speech and language therapy may include tools and strategies called augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These tools can be very helpful for children with little or no verbal communication skills. For example, a picture exchange communication system (or PECS; http://www.pecs.org.uk/) allows the child to communicate using pictures. Go to our PECS Fact Sheet for more information.

What is the theory behind it?

Children with autism not only may have trouble communicating socially, but may also have problems behaving. These behavioral problems are believed to be at least partially caused by the frustration associated with the inability to communicate. Speech therapy is intended to improve social communication skills, and teach the ability to use those communication skills as an alternative to unacceptable behavior ⁽¹⁾.

Does it work?

Many scientific studies demonstrate that speech therapy is able to improve the communication skills of children with autism ⁽¹⁾. Parents reported improvements in social play, confidence, and behavior at home and at school with speech therapy ⁽⁹⁾. The most successful approaches to speech therapy include components of early identification, family involvement, and individualized treatment ⁽⁸⁾.

There are many different approaches to speech therapy and most of them are effective. The table below lists some of the different approaches. In most cases a speech therapist will use a combination of approaches in a program.

Type of Speech Therapy	Definition	Does the Research Support It?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)	broad term for forms of communication that supplement or enhance speech, including electronic devices, picture boards, and sign language	Yes ⁽¹⁰⁾
Discrete trial training	therapy that focuses on behavior and actions	Yes ⁽¹⁾
Facilitated communication	communication technique that involves a facilitator who places his hand over the patient's hand, arm or wrist, which is placed on a board or keyboard with letters, words or pictures	No ^{(1, 4)}
Functional communication training (FCT)	use of positive reinforcement to motivate the child to communicate	Yes ⁽¹¹⁾
Generalized imitation	child is encouraged to mimic the therapists mouth motions before attempting to make the sound	Yes ⁽¹²⁾
Mand training	use of prompts and reinforcements of independent requests for items (referred to as mands)	Yes ⁽¹²⁾
Motivational techniques	therapy techniques that focus on following the child's lead and capitalize on the child's desire to respond	Yes ⁽⁶⁾
Peer mentors/circle of friends	use of children who are trained to interact with the autistic child throughout the day	Yes ⁽⁸⁾
Picture exchange communication system (PECS)	a type of AAC that uses picture symbols to communicate (see PECS Fact Sheet)	Yes ⁽¹⁰⁾
Relationship development intervention (RDI)	trademarked treatment program that centers on the belief that individuals with autism can participate in authentic emotional relationships if they are exposed to them in a gradual, systematic way	Yes ⁽⁸⁾
Sign language/total communication	language of hand shapes, movements, and facial expressions (especially useful for ages 0 to 3)	Yes ⁽¹⁾
Story scripts/social stories	actual stories that can be used or adapted to teach social skills	Yes ^{(1, 8)}

Is it harmful?

There are no reports of speech therapy being harmful.

Cost

The cost of speech therapy is covered by the government through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004. The amount of speech therapy provided in this setting may be suboptimal and thus should be supplemented with private therapy. Private speech therapy can be expensive (approximately $100/hour or more)

Speech therapy requires parental investment of time. In order to be most effective, parents may need to be fully integrated into the therapy program and should seek out opportunities to practice communication throughout the daily routine ⁽⁷⁾. With time, this should become a new way of life.

Resources

Healing Thresholds has partnered with Natural Learning Concepts. They have many tools to help children build their vocabulary.

Healing Thresholds has also partnered with Discount School Supply. Discount School Supply sells toys such as the “How Do You Feel?” Play and Learn Chart that can be used with older children to help them learn to describe feelings.

Signing Time is one of many companies selling systems that help to teach children sign language.

Autism is a condition covered under the IDEA of 2004. Services covered by IDEA include early identification and assessment by an occupational therapist. This law protects the rights of patients with autism and provides guidelines to assist in their education. It covers children from birth to age 21 (U.S. Department of Education).

Pediatricians can provide contact information for the state early intervention program (for children 0 to 3 years old). There is a listing on this Web site for state early intervention centers. School districts can coordinate special services for children 3 to 21 years old.

Several articles and books that might be useful:

Principles for speech-language pathologists in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders across the life span: Technical report by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2006). Available from http://www.asha.org/docs/html/TR2006-00143.html. 2006.

Social and Communication Development in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Early Identification, Diagnosis, and Intervention by T. Charman and W. Stone. 2006. The Guilford Press, pp. 115-266.

Enhancing Early Language in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders by R. Paul and D. Sutherland. In Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Two Volume Set. 2005. John Wiley & Sons, pp. 977-1002.

Improving Speech and Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders – An Oral Motor Program for Home and School by M.A. Flanagan. 2008. Autism Asperger Publishing Company.

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References

Two Moms in the Philippines Share about Their Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Gina Luna-Bermudo and a college classmate, Mary Rose Ramoso-Pena, both have children with autism.

Body:

Gina Luna-Bermudo and a college classmate, Mary Rose Ramoso-Pena, both have children with autism. In this article, they share how they have coped, found resources, and used various autism therapies with their kids. What the moms have done is inventive and supported by the Autism Society Philippines. Both have found that their children have strengths, such as athletics and academics, which can be fostered. Both agreed that the earlier years were the most difficult as they tried to find time for occupational therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral therapy while coping with daily activities. Interestingly, both moms take the media to task as they present autism in various ways that might not always be accurate.

Read original article: How Two Moms Deal with Autistic Children

Nigerian Woman Determined to Bring Early Intervention to Her Country’s Kids

scottie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Dotun Akande, founder of Patrick Speech and Languages Center in Lagos, believes that early intervention is the best chance for children with autism.

Body:

Dotun Akande, the founder of Patrick Speech and Languages Center in Lagos, believes that early intervention is the best chance for children with autism in her country. Akande, mom of a child with autism, works to reach out and educate as many families as possible. She explains, “Parents too should know that having a child that has this challenge is not the end of the world. Early intervention is the key; so, all you need do is to help that child come out of that problem.” Patrick Speech offers interventions that include speech and language therapy, behavioral modification therapy, OT, social skills training, vocational training, academics, music therapy, hydrotherapy, and sensory integration.

Read original article: Early Intervention is the Key to Managing Autism Well

Does Your Child with Autism Suffer from Anxiety?

scottie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Kathie Harrington, a speech and language pathologist and mom of a son with autism, has written an article on dealing with anxiety.

Body:

Kathie Harrington, a speech and language pathologist and mom of a son with autism, has written an article on dealing with anxiety. She points out that anxiety in a person with autism may affect sensory, physical, imagined, and communication areas in the person’s life. She explains, “They are anxious when they know and they are anxious when they don't know. They are anxious when they see something is close and they are anxious when something is not close enough…. They are anxious when, and when, and when... .” Some techniques she recommends include routine, relaxation, weighted clothing, music, flashlight, View Master, bean bag chair, and reading.

Read original article: How to Ease Anxiety in a Person with Autism/ASD

Texas School Uses Communication Device to Give a Voice to Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Vantage Lite is a communication tool that gives non-verbal children with autism a voice.

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The Vantage Lite is a communication tool that gives a voice to non-verbal children with autism. For example, a young student was able to use the augmentative communication device to ask for cardboard tubes. The Vine School uses Vantage Lite to help students use more than just colors and shapes – it offers unlimited communication. One example has a child clicking a photo of a bed, not only does the child see and hear “bed”, but also sees words such as sleep, tired, bedspread, and pillow. Meredith Potts, a Vine School speech pathologist says the main goal remains to enable children to learn to speak, although they understand that some will always be dependent on the computer. Another gain offered by Vantage Lite and communication devices is that children may become less frustrated as they are able to make their thoughts and needs known.

Read original article: Computer Technology Gives Voice to Children with Autism

Differently-Abled Kids in India are Receiving Speech Therapy

scottie — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:44:35 +0000

Teaser:

In the Coimbatore district in India, speech therapy is just now being offered for kids with autism.

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In the Coimbatore district in India, speech therapy is just now being offered for kids with autism and other developmental delays. District differently abled welfare officer C. Jasmine explained that the children are referred from an early intervention center and are given one-on-one therapy based on their specific needs. There are diagnostic assessments; after which, therapy involves flash cards and pictures and play. The children typically receive an hour of speech therapy a week.

Read original article: Speech Therapy for Disabled at Collectorate

Speech Center Uses Total Approach to Help Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:50:01 +0000

Teaser:

The Suburban Speech Center in New Jersey is able to treat children as young as one year of age.

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The Suburban Speech Center in New Jersey is able to treat children as young as one year of age. By adopting a total approach, speech therapists work with learning consultants, occupational therapists, and physical therapists to help children with autism and other disorders as soon as they are diagnosed. So that their skills can keep increasing, therapists give parents and/or caregivers a list of speech and language-related apps for the iPad as well as interactive DVDs. Finally, to help raise awareness for early intervention, Suburban Speech Center offers free screenings at nursery schools. Nancy Polow, the Center’s founder, explains, “Parents want to be reassured. We can give them suggestions about ways to work with their children at the time of the screening."

Read original article: Suburban Speech Helps Children Master Language

Speech Clinic Teaches Life Skills to Kids with Autism from Childhood Through Young Adulthood

scottie — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:17:59 +0000

Teaser:

Speech Therapy Associates is a California location where kids with autism are served from preschool through high school.

Body:

Speech Therapy Associates is a California location where kids with autism are served from preschool through high school. They believe that communication is a crucial life skill for kids to adapt. They also understand that skills a child with autism gains at the middle school age may need to be updated when the youngster transitions to the workforce. The clinic offers several levels of therapy: Building Blocks is for 18 months to 5 years and focuses on language and social skills; Circle of Friends is a social group where children learn turn-taking and social skills; and Building Connections is for teens and young adults to learn transition skills into a college or work situation.

Read original article: Students with Autism Learn Life Skills in Lodi

Easter Seals Opens New Pre-School in Illinois for Children with Autism

scottie — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:19:26 +0000

Teaser:

Easter Seals in Peoria opened a pre-school for children with autism.

Body:

Easter Seals in Peoria opened a pre-school for children with autism. The Intensive Therapeutic Autism Program will focus on applied behavior analysis (ABA) and DIR/Floortime. This “bridge” to kindergarten will help kids increase academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. The 3-hour-a-day, 2-day-a-week program is designed to complement current early intervention services. The class team includes an early childhood educator, speech therapist, occupational therapist, a certified ABA therapist, and several aides.

Read original article: Easter Seals to Provide Pre-School for Kids with Autism

Listening Therapy Center Opens in the Philippines

scottie — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:28:10 +0000

Teaser:

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines.

Body:

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines. Although a dentist by training, Gina felt teaching preschool was a better way to help families who had children with autism and other developmental issues such as ADHD. The center uses the Tomatis Method. Gina explains, “The Tomatis method re-trains the listening system by using electronically modified music and language to re-educate, stimulate and improve the way in which we process auditory information.” Children with learning disabilities often have difficulty in communication and social interaction, the Tomatis methods attempts to increase listening skills, communication, and memory and attention. Gina has seen that Tomatis worked well with other therapies including occupational therapy, sensory integration, and speech therapy.

Read original article: All Ears for the Tomatis Method